METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING A REFRIGERATED WATER COOLER RESEVOIR

• US 20060191960A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Original Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Inventors: Shelton, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/185.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00013 Sterilising means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00023 Oxygenators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/685 Devices for dosing the additives
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing sanitized water in a cabinet and spigot type bottled water dispenser features an ozone generating system to generate ozone for sanitizing the water. Ozone is generated and collected within an ozone generator housing. A blower transmits air to the ozone generator housing. The air carries the ozone that is generated through a flow line to an air diffuser that is positioned upstream of the spigot (or spigots) used to dispense water. In one embodiment, a valve that is activated on the spigot to dispense water also activates the blower and ozone generator. In other embodiments, a flow sensor activates the ozone generator and blower. Various spigot and flow sensor arrangements are disclosed as a part of the overall apparatus and method.

Claims

1. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) the upper end portion of the cabinet having a cover with an opening for receiving and holding a bottle of water to be dispensed;

c) reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

d) one or more spigots in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water, each spigot having a manually operable valve handle that opens the spigot to dispense water from the spigot;

e) a refrigeration system for cooling water within the reservoir;

f) a diffuser for emitting bubbles into the reservoir, said diffuser being a porous body having pores and contained within the reservoir that generates bubbles of a size that is defined by the size of the pores;

g) an ozone generator housing supported next to the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior; and

h) a timer that activates the ozone generator for a selected time interval.

5. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and the diffuser is a ring positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

6. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone bubbles to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

7. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

8. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

9. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the opening is a water inlet opening and defines a replenishing means that includes a central water inlet and a diffuser ring spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

62. The water dispenser of claim 6 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about two and ten inches.

63. The water dispenser of claim 6 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about four and eight inches.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

10-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A cooled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having a contained water dispensing system that includes a water source, a reservoir, a porous diffuser having pores for emitting ozone bubbles, and a dispensing spigot;

b) a refrigeration system for cooling water contained in the water dispensing system;

c) an ozone generator housing supported by the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior;

d) a blower for generating air flow;

e) a first air flow line connecting the blower and the housing interior;

f) a second air flow line connecting the housing interior with the porous diffuser; and

g) means for adding ozone to the water dispensing system when the spigot is operated, said means including the ozone generator, blower, porous diffuser, and flow lines;

h) wherein the diffuser generates bubbles of a size that is defined by the size of the pores of the diffuser.

20. The water dispenser of claim 19 wherein the diffuser is a ring positioned around the side of the reservoir at the bottom of the reservoir.

21. The water dispenser of claim 20 wherein the diffuser ring is generally circular.

22. The water dispenser of claim 20 wherein the reservoir has a center portion and the diffuser ring has openings positioned to direct air emissions from the center portion of the reservoir.

23. The water dispenser of claim 20 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and the diffuser ring is positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

24. The water dispenser of claim 19 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

25. The water dispenser of claim 19 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

26. The water dispenser of claim 19 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

27. The water dispenser of claim 19 further comprising a replenishing means that includes a central water inlet and the diffuser ring is spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

28-61. -61. (canceled)

64. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) the upper end portion of the cabinet having a cover with an opening for receiving and holding a bottle of water to be dispensed;

c) reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

d) one or more spigots in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water, each spigot having a manually operable valve handle that opens the spigot to dispense water from the spigot;

e) a diffuser for emitting bubbles into the reservoir, said diffuser being a porous body contained within the reservoir;

f) an ozone generator housing supported next to the housing, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior; and

g) a timer that activates the ozone generator for a selected time interval and then deactivates the ozone generator after the selected time interval expires.

68. The water dispenser of claim 64 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and the diffuser ring is positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

69. The water dispenser of claim 64 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

70. The water dispenser of claim 64 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

71. The water dispenser of claim 64 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

72. The water dispenser of claim 64 wherein the replenishing means includes a central water inlet and a diffuser ring spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

73. The water dispenser of claim 69 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about two and ten inches.

74. The water dispenser of claim 69 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about four and eight inches.

65-67. -67. (canceled)

75. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) the cabinet having an inlet opening for receiving water from a water source;

c) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface and receiving water via the inlet opening from the water source;

d) one or more spigots in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water, each spigot having a manually operable valve handle that opens the spigot to dispense water from the spigot;

e) a refrigeration system for cooling water within the reservoir;

f) a diffuser for emitting bubbles into the reservoir, said diffuser being a porous body having pores and contained within the reservoir that generates bubbles of a size that is defined by the size of the pores;

g) an ozone generator housing supported next to the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior; and

h) a timer that activates the ozone generator for a selected time interval.

76. The water dispenser of claim 75 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone bubbles to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

77. The water dispenser of claim 75 wherein the diffuser is a ring positioned around the side of the reservoir at the bottom of the reservoir.

78. The water dispenser of claim 75 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

79. The water dispenser of claim 75 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about two and ten inches.

80. The water dispenser of claim 75 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about four and eight inches.

81. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) the cabinet having an inlet opening for receiving water from a water source;

c) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface and receiving water via the inlet opening from the water source;

d) one or more spigots in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water, each spigot having a manually operable valve handle that opens the spigot to dispense water from the spigot;

e) a diffuser for emitting bubbles into the reservoir, said diffuser being a porous body contained within the reservoir;

f) an ozone generator housing supported next to the housing, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior; and

g) a timer that activates the ozone generator for a selected time interval and then deactivates the ozone generator after the selected time interval expires.

82. The water dispenser of claim 81 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

83. The water dispenser of claim 81 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

84. The water dispenser of claim 81 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

85. The water dispenser of claim 81 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about two and ten inches.

86. The water dispenser of claim 81 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about four and eight inches.